‘We need more heaters for Gurrumul,’ said bass player and collaborator Michael Hohnen, who generally does the talking during performances.
While Hohnen’s comment may have seemed arbitrary, it was a good way to sum up the merging of two very different parts of Australia that we saw on Saturday night at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. One, a blustery anglicised Melbourne Festival audience; the other, the people of tropical Elcho Island, where Yolngu culture weaves its spiritual narrative around its people.
Australian music stalwart Sarah Blasko kicked off the evening, with her ethereal voice weaving through the late comers as twilight set it. Hits ‘All I want’ and ‘All Coming Back’ were definite highlights in her short (just under 40 minutes) set, leaving the crowd ready for the main attraction of the night.
Blasko has matured as an artist over the last decade, transforming from indie darling into a performer of the calibre of Kate Bush or Cat Power. For an artist who commands a huge local following on her own, it was certainly interesting to see her as the support act. With no warm up herself, she faced the difficult task of grabbing the attention of a still distracted audience and she did so with aplomb.
After a break between sets that seemed far too long, Gurrumul, his band and Philharmonia Australia emerged, set for a night of music, storytelling and experience.
The story of the artist was told in between songs through videoed interviews with his family and the people he grew up with. One speaker told of Gurrumul as a bridge between Yolngu culture and the rest of the world, and that was certainly true of this evening.
The audience learned about the salt water crocodile, spirit birds, and the octopus. Most importantly though was the story of Biyani, the spirit woman who drowned at sea. The song named for her was sung with Sarah Blasko, and was one of the most captivating songs of the evening.
We also learned that Gurrumul is the child of Wititj, the Rainbow Serpent, and that he is carried by her. This makes him a special person, and the way his voice resonates even with people who have little knowledge of the content of his songs, proves that.
While the orchestra seemed at times a touch too much for the beautiful simplicity of Gurrumul’s voice, this was a memorable evening capped off by the touching ‘I Was Born Blind’, the only song he sang in English.
4 stars out of 5
Gurrumul – His Life and Music
with special guest Sarah Blasko
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Sat 12 Oct, for the Melbourne Festival.
Image: Melbourne Festival website
